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Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?

112 replies

GuitarRookie · 19/05/2023 17:18

Hi,

I grew up with this show and loved it! Didn't bother with the college years, but loved the first few series as an early-mid teen.

I suggested my teen dd watched it a few days a go, as noticed a re run from the beginning but wow, it's so bad!

I don't remember it being so racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic and oh yes, then there's the casual paedophilia story line! And did they actually talk about anything other than sex?! I mean, I know it's a coming of age, teen angst drama, but it's just ridiculous. All of the characters are unlikeable at best. The script is awful, the writing is amateurish.

I asked my dd what she thought and she basically said it was crap. It hasn't aged well.

Not sure why I needed to rant about this 😂 but here it is!

OP posts:
Hairbrushhandle · 19/05/2023 22:13

I remember just feeling so stupid that my friends and I didn't speak with the type of long words of phrasing they used. I suspect the imposter syndrome that breaks me on a daily basis probably started with pacey banging on about relationships in a poncy manner.

DorritLittle · 19/05/2023 22:17

Loved Dawson’s Creek but not sure I could watch the whole thing again now. I was full of angst myself when I watched it.

SilentParrot · 19/05/2023 22:18

Ah but it gave us the glorious Dawson Crying Face.

I remember enjoying watching it on a Sunday morning in an eye rolly way (they were all such annoyingly hiper articulate 16 year olds) but I'd be hard pressed to name a single storyline. Tempted to have a mini re-watch now...

Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?
Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?

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DinaofCloud9 · 19/05/2023 22:19

Pacey was gorgeous but Jack was too. I loved them both.

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2023 22:20

I rewatched the whole thing a couple of years back and was struck by how weird it was that whenever Joey did one of her long wordy rants about her “wrong side of the tracks” reputation she always mentioned her sister having a baby with her black boyfriend. And said black boyfriend, literally the only black character, completely vanishes. That bit has aged like milk.

LittleBumblebee3 · 19/05/2023 22:22

It’s complete crap but I’ll still rewatch it all from time to time just to watch Pacey 😍🤣

One Tree Hill is the one to watch IMO 😊 I’ll never not love that show! The OC was great too! Lol

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2023 22:24

Joshua Jackson is a slice of heaven @LittleBumblebee3 but he looks too young in Dawson’s Creek….early series of The Affair on the other hand…woof

SilentParrot · 19/05/2023 22:25

I always thought Dawson's dad looked so out of place. He looked like a bodybuilder who'd wandered on to set.

burnoutbabe · 19/05/2023 22:26

Ah pacey!!

And jack. And busy Phillips rocked.

I really want to rewatch but probably should avoid earlier stuff. Start later on.

Hoolihan · 19/05/2023 22:28

I was a My So Called Life super fan so DC always seemed totally lame, even at the time. I did love Pacey though.

EmmaEmerald · 19/05/2023 22:29

I loved the setting
but in the UK, it was played too fast - do they still do that?

if you watch it on a DVD, or maybe a streaming service now, it might be better. But I remember the actors commenting that it sounded squeaky here!

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2023 22:31

How did Dawsons Creek drag on for years @Hoolihan and My So Called Life got one paltry series. I’ve loved Claire Danes ever since - just finished Fleishman is in Trouble on Amazon Prime and she’s so good in it. I would possibly have died for Jared Leto at the time but he seems like a bit of a dick these days.

SilentParrot · 19/05/2023 22:34

My So Called Life was one perfect series and all the stronger for it. It's great when programmes stop when they're way ahead.

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 19/05/2023 22:40

I was obsessed with My So-Called Life! I have it on dvd and still watch occasionally.

I also loved DC. The episode where Joel wears a wire to catch out her Dad 😭 And the reading on the boat. Michelle Williams is amazing in it.

I’d quite like to watch it again but I don’t want to ruin it for myself

BornBlonde · 19/05/2023 22:51

Pacey ❤️❤️❤️

ALongFewWeeks · 19/05/2023 22:53

I loved Dawson’s Creek. I’m tempted to re watch but don’t want it ruined. 😂

HyggeTygge · 19/05/2023 22:57

Idontwannawait!

EmmaEmerald · 19/05/2023 22:59

HyggeTygge · 19/05/2023 22:57

Idontwannawait!

I have the soundtrack, it's great.

Jackiebrambles · 19/05/2023 23:00

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2023 22:31

How did Dawsons Creek drag on for years @Hoolihan and My So Called Life got one paltry series. I’ve loved Claire Danes ever since - just finished Fleishman is in Trouble on Amazon Prime and she’s so good in it. I would possibly have died for Jared Leto at the time but he seems like a bit of a dick these days.

I agree. I also re watch my so called life as I have it on dvd! God it’s just so good, every character in it. I find it hard to reconcile Jordan Catalano with that bloke who dressed up like a cat.

evilharpy · 19/05/2023 23:06

MSCL was perfect in every way. I was obsessed with it in the 90s and devastated when it didn't get a second season. I have it on DVD and rewatch it now and then and it's aged very well - although scary to think I am now around the age of Patty, not Angela.

Jared Leto is a dick but there is nobody in the world who can lean like Jordan Catalano.

SusannaQ · 19/05/2023 23:07

Hated the way they treated Jen - misogynistic much? But I still watched. The soundtrack has lasted fairly well, I still listen to the two albums .
I really want to see Party of Five again to see how it's held up, and My So Called Life - loved that show.

Nanananananana99 · 19/05/2023 23:11

Im not saying it’s not ‘of its time’ and therefore would naturally dated in all the ways you describe but if you were to watch Riverdale for example you we find it’s very similar and will also probably feel very dated in 10-20 years. (if not already)

I managed to watch about half the first episode of Wednesday the other day to see what all the ‘kids’ were talking about. It’s pure cheese but I know for a fact I would have loved it if I was 14 again.

I disagree about the writing on DC as it was one of the first shows to give teens and ‘intelligent’ voice and was the main usp that made it so popular.

Jack coming out as gay and his first gay kiss was one of the ground breaking storylines in US prime time tv. (Think we were fairly ahead already in the U.K. on that front)

Personally I actually really liked the college years, and as I get older sometimes wonder if I prefer them although Pacy and Dawson both had a few bonkers storylines at that point.

Fun fact: Katy Holmes is the only main cast member to appear in every episode as she has an episode to herself where she gets held at gun point. Series 5, Ep15: Downtown Crossing

Hoolihan · 19/05/2023 23:12

MSCL has really.stood the test of time imo. I also rewatch it sometimes and it's so multi-layered - a lot of adult angst going on in the background that I've only really understood now that I'm an adult myself. Gone too soon!! I hope Brian Krakow is happy somewhere. Jordan Catalano will forever be my no 1 teen dream, despite the problematic Jared.

Nanananananana99 · 19/05/2023 23:22

EmmaEmerald · 19/05/2023 22:29

I loved the setting
but in the UK, it was played too fast - do they still do that?

if you watch it on a DVD, or maybe a streaming service now, it might be better. But I remember the actors commenting that it sounded squeaky here!

It was for the first couple of series but I think they changed that because I can remember one of the T4 presenters announcing that it might sound a bit different.

There is also different music tracks used when it was first aired and when it when to DVD in the U.K. as they cheaped out on all the rights. I don’t know if it’s the same for blue ray but know it was the same when it originally came on streaming, although that could have changed by now.

They also switched the opening songs around on the DVDs I think. So I Don’t Wanna Wait and Run Like Mad are used on the opening titles of different series to the broadcast run.

LooseFit · 19/05/2023 23:25

Dawson was always an insufferable twat.